An identity check for persons who deal with security-enhanced sources (as set out in section 14B of the Act and clause 25(2) of the Regulation) shall be conducted in accordance with the Gold Standard Enrolment Framework (GSEF). The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has endorsed the GSEF as the national best practice guide for identity-checking in the National Identity Security Strategy.

The GSEF requires documents from four categories to establish proof of identity:

Evidence of commencement of identity in Australia

Linkage between evidence of the identity and person

Evidence of identity operating in the community

Evidence of residential address.

The person conducting the identity check must sight documents from categories 1, 2 and 3. A document from category 4 is only required where the person's current residential address is not shown in a category 2 or 3 document.

The person conducting the check must keep an identity check record, which records the name and residential address of the person who is the subject of the check and the documents sighted in performing the check.

Change of name – Evidence of change of name is required if the name on any of the documents presented is different from the name of the person.

Preferred documents are shown in the table below. If one of the preferred documents is not available, another acceptable document may be used.

If a person is unable to provide an acceptable document, the person conducting the check should contact the EPA to discuss the particular circumstances.

Proof of identity

Preferred documents

Category 1

Primary identity document and evidence of citizenship or immigration status

If the person was born in Australia:

Australian birth certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

If person was born overseas and is a citizen or permanent resident, one of the following:

Citizenship certificate

Permanent resident visa

Permanent residency certificate

Certificate of evidence of residence status

If person was born overseas and is not a citizen or permanent resident:

Foreign passport, and

Australian visa issued for entry to Australia
New Zealand citizens only need to produce their New Zealand passport as a Special Category Visa is issued upon arrival into Australia and this visa is electronically recorded.

Category 2

Linkage between identity and person (photo and signature)

Australian driver's licence (current)

Passport (current)

Firearms licence (current)

NSW photo card issued by Roads and Maritime Services

Certificate of identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for one time use by Australians travelling oversees

This check will verify an applicant’s citizenship status, residency status and entitlement to work in Australia, including, but not limited to, whether the person is an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or an unlawful non-citizen.

There are no additional requirements for identity checks for persons who have: